GTTA in retrospect(iii)
This is the concluding part of the Ghana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) exploits, challenges and the way forward for the sport.
The National Sports Council, the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), local and international companies, as well as individual philanthropists, must assist the GTTA with administrative imprest for the effective and efficient running of the Secretariat.
The GTTA should commence plans on managing table tennis for persons with disabilities (Para-Table Tennis) in Ghana, as directed by the ITTF. This should be done in collaboration with the National Paralympic Committee.
The National Sport Council should fast-track the appointment of permanent professional coaches of the sport, for the following seven regions of Ghana; Western, Volta, Brong-Ahafo, Upper East, Upper West, Northern and Ashanti.
In addition, the NSC should assist the Association in the procurement of adequate play equipment and materials such as tables, rubbers, blades, balls, score indicators, racket control devices (Mini-RAE Lite®”) and complete nets and posts for grassroots development of the game.
The NSC should appoint the few existing performing junior table tennis coaches, to be directly in charge of the various categories of National Teams (Cadets Boys & Girls, Junior Boys & Girls and Senior Men & Women), under the general supervision of the one and only skillful, but ageing, Acting Chief Coach. This will guarantee sustainable coaching of the sport in the country.
The Association must pursue vigorous sponsorship drives to support funding of programs by the National Sports Council. The construction of multipurpose Sports Halls in all the regions of Ghana, by the Sports Ministry and the National Sports Council, must be given urgent attention.
The Association should hold regular Table Tennis stakeholders meetings and seminars to brainstorm on current development in the sport. Formulation of by-laws to promote player discipline at all fronts by the Sports Council and the Association.
The Sports Council should assist the Association to organize more training camps for Districts, Regional and National model teams to guarantee better performance in all future local and international championships.
The GTTA Secretary General should promptly write to the ITTF, through the ATTF, to remind the ITTF Development Director on the discussed equipment supply to Ghana in 2010.
GTTA Secretary General should renew discussions with the Ghana Olympic Committee on IOC Olympic Solidarity coaches and umpires courses, as well as scholarships for good table tennis players like Samuel Akayade and possibly Akosua Ketu.
This should be followed up with official Olympic Solidarity Courses and scholarship application letters.
The National Sports Council and the Ministry of Youth and Sports should assist the Association to seek for the under-mentioned table tennis equipment and materials from the following table tennis friendly nations - China, Germany, Japan and Hungary - for the rapid growth of the sport in Ghana; Formulation of by-laws to promote player discipline at all fronts by the Sports Council and the Association.
The GTTA should expedite action in pursuing the enactment of a new national constitution that conforms to the current demands of its affiliated international federations (ITTF, ATTF, ATTF Zone III and CTTF). The creation of various sub–committees to oversee the rapid growth of the sport can then be well catered for, among others.
In its hanker to equip the association's administrative works, it is requesting for four computers, four colour printers, two scanners, two photocopiers, 100 HP Laser Jet print cartridge, 50 storage devices (flash drives) 8GB capacity, four storage devices (External devises, 250GB) two UPS, six office cabinet, two motorbikes, one 4x4 pick up truck.
The exceptional contribution of some organisations and individuals has prompted the GTTA to express gratitude to them. They are the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), the Ministry of Youth and Sports, especially the Minister (Rashid Pelpuo) and Ag. Chief Director Alhaji Abudulai Yakubu, the management of the National Sports Council, especially the Ag. Chief Executive, Wolanyo K. Agra, the executors of D. G. Hathiramani Estates.
Others are Dr. S. A. Quaye and Mr. Emmanuel Okai, Mr. Samuel Kwabena Dei, CEO, Mallas Ice Company, Accra, Ghana, the Ghanaian media (print and electronic), sports officers of the National Security Services in Ghana, Regional Sports Development officers of the National Sports Council, Ghana Education Service, National and Regional Sports Secretariats and Regional Table Tennis coaches and chairmen in Ghana. In conclusion, with the current revival of the sport at both local and international levels, the Association believes that the continuous injection of funds by the Government of Ghana, local and international stakeholders, as well as individual philanthropists, into equipment, materials and facilities, would result in more successes in the very near future.